Airline Airline Ground System • Connects the Airline to the Aircraft - Sends messages to the aircraft “Uplinks” - Receives messages form aircraft “Downlinks” • Routes messages to and from the airlines • Ground System is comprised of various message-handling networks referred to as Service Providers. Service Providers (ARINC, SITA, AVICOM, etc.)
• Operate VHF Remote Ground Stations (RGS),
HF Ground Stations, Satellite Ground Stations, Front End Processors (FEP) • Routes messages to correct address • Geographically oriented and operate on specific VHF frequencies Remote Ground Stations (RGS)
• Provide VHF Communications Link which
exchanges messages with the aircraft. • Downlinks received from aircraft are sent to the Front End Processors. • Identify themselves every 2 minutes by transmitting an identification message (Squitter). Front End Processors (FEP) • Transfers messages between the Remote Ground Stations and the airline computers. • Routes messages to correct location by matching information in the downlink to a list of airline command and control computer addresses. • Maintains a list of which aircraft are being served by a particular RGS to that uplinks can be sent to an aircraft from the correct radio transmitter. Service Provider Frequencies
" ARINC (United States, Canada and Mexico)
Base = 131.550 MHz 2nd = 130.025 MHz
" SITA (Europe, Asia, South America)
Base = 131.725 MHz 2nd = 131.525 MHz Europe
" MASCOM (Malaysia) Base = 131.725 MHz
" AVICOM (Japan) Base = 131.450 MHz " Advantus (Canada) Base = 131.475 MHz " AeroThai (Thailand) Base = 131.575 MHz Satellite
airline's host processor. This processor routes messages to the correct departments within the airline. Passenger Service Messages originating within the airline are sent to the host processor which checks for errors, converts the message to the correct format, and passes it to the Service Provider which routes it to the aircraft via the correct RGS. ACARS Communication Airborne System
SATCOM VHF HF
Service Provider Range (Nautical Miles) • VHF Communication is Line Of Sight
• Graph Shows Distance
200 240 Between Aircraft and Ground 200 Station. 160 • Outside of This Range, 110 100 ACARS will Be Typically In No Communication, Unless Alternate Datalink (SATCOM or HF) is Used 50 39 • When In No Communication, ACARS will Save Messages, and Transmit Once A/C 10 20 30 40 comes in Range Aircraft Altitude (Thousand Feet) VHF Station .DX-HAM N2463AA
Aircraft Registration Number identifies
the intended destination of an uplink message
Uplink to N2463AA
VHF Station Weather Request Demonstration Satellite
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite The flight crew has requested weather information through the ACARS resulting in a downlink
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite Ground Station receives the Downlink and forwards it to the Service Provider
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
The Service Provider’s processors
access the requested information and send an Uplink response to the Ground Station.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
The Ground Station transmits the
Uplink response to the aircraft
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Demonstration of Airlines request for Satellite Position Report
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
An Airline wants to know the location
of one of their aircraft and request a position report
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
Routing tables indicate that the aircraft
is currently communicating with another Service Providers network.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
The active Service Provider sends the
uplink request to the correct Ground Station.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
The Ground Station transmits the
uplink request.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
The Airborne System accesses the position
information and sends a Downlink
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
Ground Station sends Downlink to the
active Service Provider.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
Service Provider sends an
acknowledgement (ACK) reply
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
ACK is transmitted by the Ground Station
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
Active Service Provider forwards the
downlink to the home Service Provider.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
Home Service Provider forwards the
downlink report to the Airline.
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
VHF Service FEP
Station Provider VHF FEP Station
Airline Airline Satellite
HF Station VHF SATCOM Station Station HF Station Service Provider
